E
72
THE HONGKONG. WEEKLY PRESS AND.
THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREE
MENT.
(Daily Press, 22nd January.) The correspondence respecting the Anglo- German Agreement of the 16th October is now in the hands of the public. It contains practically nothing new. Ten letters in all are published, commencing with the inter- changed notes of the 16th October between Lord Salisbury and Count HATEFELDT, inclosing copies of the Agreement signed on that day. Following these is the tele- graphic despatch to the British representa tives at Paris, Vienna, Rome, St. Petersburg, Washington, and Tokyo, communicating the terms of the Agreement, and directing them to concert with their German colleagues in an invitation to the other Powers to accept the principles recorded in it. The only point of interest in the replies received is the exact language in which they were couched.
44
January 28, 1901,
"height" this Governme on the 3rd Ju
once more made an announcement of its policy regarding impartial trade and the integrity of the Chinese Empire, and had learning that the Powers
And since
the gratification of a
that held similar views,
the most gratifying harmony has existed among all the nations con- cerned as to the end to be pursued, and there has been little divergence of opinion as to the details of the course to be fol- "lowed." With-regard to the third clause, the United States Government, regarding it as a reciprocal arrangement between the two High Contracting Powers, did not feel called upon to express any opinion.
.
To sum up these bare facts, Austria- Hungary and Italy accepted the principles of the Agreement at once, practically with- out comment or hesitation; the United States, with full sympathy: Japan, after being assured that she would stand in the same position as if she had been a signatory; and Russia and France, with the declaration of their intentions to act according to cir- cumstances in event of an infringement of the principle of the integrity of the Chinese Empire. What satisfaction there is to be derived from the answers of the Powers, apart from the general speedy acceptance of the principles of the Agreement, lies in the fact that the two nations from whom ag- gression might most be feared, from one in the north and from the other in the south, are the most emphatic in declaring their desire to maintain China's integrity. If this is not a case of “protesting too much.” Manchuria's continuance under Chinese rule should be amply guaranteed by Russia herself.
take up the foreign" newspapers – within the last two years will find several cases where the churches" have attempted to drag their own affairs by such measures into prominence. No well-regulated state in Europe permits the civil power to be set at naught in the interests of any association, religious or otherwise, and of all the Powers that which most strictly confines the Church within the leading strings of order is the identical Power which in China would open the door to ecclesiastical abuses of the worst character. The Press in China while at all times a strong supporter of missionary enterprise, has to its credit always held the view that the missionary bodies were more particularly, from the very nature of their task, bound to respect the civil arm; and the refusal of Lord SALIS BUET to recognise any claim to official rank on the part of the ecclesiatical organisations has wisely been accepted by the English missionary bodies, and endorsed by the country at large. As Englishmen xe may The Russian Government, as is already afford to smile at Liu's fears for the pro- known, stated that the arrangement between posed commercial regulations, and the Germany and England did not modify from stipulation that they be of such a nature as its point of view the situation in China. not to inflict injury on Chinese commercial The first clause, which stipulated that the interests will certainly meet with entire sym-river and coast ports of China should pathy. Restrictions on trade form no part remain free and open to commerce, could be of England's policy, nor has England been favourably entertained by Russia, as the tempted by the selfish restraints placed upon status quo established by existing Treaties her own commerce by rival states to retaliate, was not thereby disturbed. The second or place barriers on the most free inter-clause, in which England and Germany en- change of commodities. So far then we gaged not to make use of the complication can assure His Excellency tha: his appeal in China to obtain terrritorial advan to British sympathies will not be made in tages, and to direct their policy to vain, and that if he can succeed in his self-maintaining undiminished the territorial induced task of bringing his own Govern- condition of the Chinese Empire, corres- ment to reason, he will have nothing to ponded all the more with the intentions of fear from any action of England. But, and Russia, seeing that, from the commence- there is unfortunately a but in the case, can ment of the present complications, she was Liu KUNG-TI bring any influence to bear in the first to lay down the maintenance of the the present position to bring about the state integrity of the Chinese Empire as a funda- of affairs he desires? One, and perhaps mental principle of her policy in China." the greatest, crime alleged against the Em- The bearing of this on the question of Man- in these columns of the extremely limited peror was that he saw in the best interests churia must be kept in mind. The Russian market space of the Colony. At the same of his country that the artificial distinction reply goes on to state that as to the third time, we strenuously advocated the erection between Chinese and Manchu could no point, relating to the eventuality of an in- of a temporary matshed structure on un- longer be maintained without the fringement of the principle of integrity, leased land, in order to do away with the greatest danger to his country. If he Imperial Government could only renew extensive illicit sale of uncured pork and any evidence were required of the wisdom its declaration of the 12th (25th) August fresh fish that goes on daily, to all practical of the Emperor's policy it has been that "such an infringement would oblige intents and purposes unchecked, in many This illegal afforded by recent events. It is therefore Russia to modify her attitude according to parts of the native quarters. all in favour of Liv'a appreciation of the circumstances." The Austro-Hungarian open-air trade is alike detrimental to the political situation to find him endorsing reply was given verbally to the British and buyer, who has no guarantee that the this view. Naturally we should expect the German Ambassadors, and merely expressed meat thus furtively sold is not diseased, and whole of the Empire to be unanimous pleasure at the Agreement and acceptance to the Government, which, with open eyes, in upholding this view, and it is one of of its principle. Japan, desiring to know neglects a splendid opportunity of legi- the symptoms of the incapacity of her what would be the exact effect of accepting timately and easily increasing its revenue. present rulers, that Lru should be left the principles of the Agreement, after Nothing however has been done to remedy alone with his Emperor to urge so natural receiving assurances from the contracting what is, without the slightest shadow of a a reform. If any large or influential section Powers that the Japanese Imperial Go doubt, a most disgraceful state of affairs. of His Excellency's countrymen could sum-vernment by adhering to the Agreement The community has recently been again mon sufficient courage to declare openly the would be placed in the same position they forcibly reminded of the hopeless inade- necessity for such a change, we could look would have occupied if they had been a quacy of its market accommodation. At forward with some degree of confidence to signatory instead of an adhering State, un- the last Sanitary Board meeting, a peti- the coming ability of China to manage her hesitatingly accepted the principles of the tion, addressed originally to His Excel- own affairs; but political courage is, we Agreement. France welcomed the principles lency the Governor, was submitted from fear, the last thing to be looked for amongst and affirmed her determination if, contrary the lessees of the fresh pork stalls in the administrators of the Empire. Mean to all expectation, the integrity of China the various local markets. while it is unpleasant to have to believe, should be infringed, to "act according to that not only the Emperor, himself the circumstances, with a view to safeguarding individual most largely interested, but even her interests and the rights secured to her the Empress Dowager herself, are ignorant by Treaty." Italy did not hesitate to of the terms offered by the foreign Powers; give her adhesion to the Agreement, and that the cordon which surrounds the Mr. HAY's reply on behalf of the United Palace has hitherto been successful in block (States accepted the principles of the first ing every avenue of approach. This is two clauses with an expression of full Burely a thing which rests on the shoulders sympathy. He said, moreover :—“During of the Provincials to remove, and which we the last year this Government invited the ought to hold the Viceroys themselves re-“Powers interested in China to join in an sponsible for,
The proposed free coinage of silver in For- moga has been abandoned, owing to the staunch
pposition of Marquis Ito.
J
“expression of views and purposes in the “direction of impartial trade with that and received satisfactory assur ces to that effect from all of them hen the recent troubles were a at their
MARKET ACCOMMODATION.
Daily Press, 25th January.)
It is over three months ago since we wrote
It is not
long since the vending of unsalted or uncooked swine flesh was illegal, except within the walls of the public markets. Licen- ces for the sale of this class of meat have quite recently been granted to as many as thirty-three outside shops-mainly teáp fo and shiu lúp pó-in different parts of the city. This essentially reasonable and business-like proceeding originated with the Hon. F. H. Mat, presumably while he was Acting Col- onial Secretary, and was intended to relieve the acknowledged congestion in the as well as to reduce excessive prices. tercsted stall-bolders, however, from the outset, stoutly resented this, to them, un- warranted encroachment on dearly-bought